McGary, a Chesterton, Ind., native, was joined by 40 partygoers in his family's garage.

One town over, Robinson was surrounded by over 80 guests. His mother, Shantelle Clay, who works as an event planner, rented a ballroom in Merrillville, near their home in St. John's, Ind.

So separated only by a stretch of I-94, but connected by two years spent together at Michigan, each watched and waited on Thursday. First, they each saw former teammate Nik Stauskas get sent to the Sacramento Kings with the No. 8 pick.

Then McGary's time came around 9 p.m. ET, when the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the 21st pick overall pick in the draft. About an hour later, Robinson had his moment. The Minnesota Timberwolves picked him in the second round, 40th overall.

Friday brought introductions to their new worlds: McGary caught a flight to Oklahoma, Robinson to Minnesota.

"I've been reaching out to Glenn these last couple weeks -- we're still pretty tight, best of friends, even though he went with a different agency (for representation)," McGary said during a during a Friday teleconference with Michigan media.

When the Thunder made their pick on Thursday, McGary said he "didn't know what to do."

"I thought my whole house was going to come down because it was so loud in the garage," he added.

McGary said he called Michigan coach John Beilein roughly three minutes after being drafted.

"I just thanked him for everything he's done for me through the adversity that I've faced," McGary said. "He's always been there for me -- always stuck through it no matter how high or low, he's always been there supporting me."

In Oklahoma City, McGary smiled his way through a welcoming press conference on Friday afternoon. Labeled as a "mystery man" of the draft, thanks to a sophomore season trimmed to only eight games, the curiosity was ripe.

The 22-year-old was asked about his surgically repaired back, responding that it feels "great" and that he plans to participate in NBA Summer League action. Off the stage, he was asked about the failed drug test in the NCAA tournament that resulted in a one-year ban from NCAA competition.

"It was a lot of similar stuff (he's been previously asked), but I've been handling it pretty well," McGary said.

McGary spent the afternoon alongside Stanford small forward Josh Huestis, the Thunder's 29th overall pick, meeting team personnel and taking tours. During the press conference, both players said they want to bring energy and toughness to Oklahoma City.

The franchise doesn't need much more. It already features stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and has appeared in three of the last four Western Conference finals.

Robinson, meanwhile, was introduced in Minnesota earlier in the day on Friday. He admitted that Thursday's draft was a long waiting game. The 6-foot-6 guard had hoped to be a first-round selection -- touring the country for 18 pre-draft workouts in an attempt to prove his worth -- but instead slipped to the middle of the second round.

"I was really excited and as the selection show went on, I got kind of nervous, you know?" Robinson said during his press conference. "But I knew my name was going to be called."

It was indeed, along with that UCLA guard Zach LaVine, the Kings' first-round pick and his new teammate. LaVine played only one year of college basketball, but is well familiar with Robinson.

"I was watching Glenn when I was a senior in high school," LaVine said. "(ESPN SportsCenter's) Top Ten plays would come on and I'd see him just jumping out the gym, dunking on somebody. So I was like, 'OK, this dude, he might jump higher than me.'"

And that's saying something. LaVine was considered one of the athlete athletes in the draft.

The theme of the day in Minnesota, though, was that the duo will bring more than athleticism.

"We feel like the sky’s the limit for them," said Timberwolves general manager Milt Newton.

Minnesota finished the 2013-14 season with a 40-42 record.

“We both have all the pieces and all the potential in the world,” Robinson said. “I definitely think we’ll take full advantage of this opportunity to play for the Timberwolves.”

Projected as a first-round pick in the 2013 draft last summer, had he entered, and as a lottery pick in the 2014 draft after he returned to U-M, Robinson was asked what he learned by spending another year in college.

His answer: "Leadership."

Robinson didn't express any regrets, despite his stock falling as a sophomore at Michigan.

"Coach Beilein really has a system that fits well to the next level," Robinson said. "He has his system, but there are times that we have the freedom to kind of play. … It gave us a chance to succeed. That's the only reason I'm up here today -- because I was able to fit in that system and play within the team."

Brendan F. Quinn covers University of Michigan basketball and football. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on Wolverines hoops. He can be contacted at bquinn@mlive.com